Time-Locked Romance (Timeless Series #2)

CHAPTER 1- ONLY TIME

JUSTICE MAXIMUS HUXLEY
FEBRUARY 02, 2024

Living with the pain and regret felt like wandering through a desolate graveyard, my heart buried among the echoes of what once was. I knew I wasn't a bad person, but letting my love slip away so easily felt like a deep betrayal.

If only I had put down my lab equipment and gone with her to that place we had talked about, I might have been able to protect her. I could have saved her from the monster who took her from me.

"I killed her," I murmured, the confession heavy on my tongue as I took another swig from the bottle of whiskey in my hand.

It had been a week since Klarisse disappeared, and for just as long, I had locked myself in this room, drowning in a storm of emotions and alcohol. The empty bottles that surrounded me stood as grim reminders of my despair. The door was locked, the lights were off, and the only light that pierced the darkness was a faint glow seeping through the window, barely parting the worn curtains.

I feel lost, adrift in an ocean of pain. If taking my own life weren't such a crime, I might welcome it by now-or maybe I still would. Living without her is a cruel and unbearable existence.

No one in this world understood how deeply I loved you, Klarisse. They didn't even know that we were in a relationship, that you held my heart as if it were a fragile treasure.

"Mr. Justice Maximus Huxley!" rinig kong tawag sa akin ng kung sinomang nasa labas ng aking kuwarto. "This is Detective Bench from DWD Police Station."

Ano naman ang ginagawa ng isang detective sa pamamahay ko?

"I've already told you! My son isn't a murderer!" my mother shouted.

So, are they here to investigate me? For what?

"Hindi naman ho naming sinabi na isang murderer ang anak ninyo. Nandito lang kami para anyayahan siya sa station namin para sa ilang katanungan. Kung ayaw hong sumama ng anak ninyo nang kusa ay mapipilitan kaming dalahin siya roon sa sapilitang paraan."

"What?! No!"

"Mr. Huxley, narinig mo naman siguro ang sinabi ko. Lumabas ka diyan sa lungga mo at sumama ka sa amin nang matiwasay."

"Ano ba kasing kailangan ninyo sa kapatid ko?" sabat naman ng nakababata kong kapatid na si Jazmin.

"Huwag kang makisali sa usapan ng mga matatanda, kiddo. Just mind your own things," sabat naman ng boses babae sa mahinahong tono. "Mr. Huxley, kapag hindi ka pa rin lumabas diyan ay gigibain namin itong sara ng pinto mo."

Sa halip na makinig sa pananakot nito ay sarkastiko akong natawa at muling tinungga ang isa pang bote ng Pusser's Rum. Kung kaugnay ito sa kaso ni Klarisse ay hindi ako natutuwa. Isang linggo na ang nakararaan pero ngayon pa lang nila tinutugis ang mga taong posibleng suspect sa pagkamatay ng girlfriend ko.

The investigation process in this country is dragging on slower than I could have ever imagined. It's almost as if the real assailant is sitting back and having a good laugh while they chase after innocent people. And these self-proclaimed detectives in front of my room? They might just be the most inept people I've had the misfortune of meeting in my entire life.

"Isa! Dalawa!"

"Detective Solar-"

Kasabay niyon ay ang pagbagsak ng sara ng aking pinto. Naitakip ko ang aking unan sa aking mukha dahil sa sobrang liwanag na sumalubong sa aking paningin. Tila ba kaya akong bulagin niyon. Marahil ay epekto ng pagkukulong ko, idagdag pang lango sa alak ang aking sistema.